Sports stats



Minnesota Swarm Selects Four Players in Dispersal Draft

November 5, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm selected four players in tonight's Dispersal Draft of players from the Arizona and Boston franchises. The Swarm selected forward Andy Secore with the fifth overall pick, goalie Ryan Avery with the eighth overall pick, defenseman Mike Grimes with the 17th pick and forward Mark Tinning with the 32nd pick in the draft. Minnesota acquired the fifth overall pick in the Dispersal Draft from the Edmonton Rush in exchange for goalie Matt Disher.

Secore, 23 (4/28/84), collected 22 points (10-12=22) in 14 games with Arizona in 2007. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound forward added six points in three playoff games as the Sting advanced to the championship game. The Hamilton, Ontario native has recorded 25 points (10-15=25) in 17 career games with Arizona.

Avery, 25 (6/27/82), was 4-0 with a 10.64 goals against average (GAA) and a .782 save percentage in 10 games with Calgary in 2007. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound netminder added five assists and 10 loose balls during the regular season and appeared in one playoff game with the Roughnecks. The Hamilton, Ontario-native appeared in two games with Calgary in 2006 and six games with Buffalo in 2005.

Grimes, 21 (3/15/86), recorded four points (1-3=4), 13 penalty minutes and 38 loose balls in 11 games with Arizona during his first season in the NLL in 2007. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defenseman is a native of Peterborough, Ontario.

Tinning, 24 (5/23/83), appeared in two games with Arizona in 2007 and notched three loose balls and six penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 188-pound native of Kitchener, Ontario also appeared in one game with the Sting in 2005 and recorded four points (2-2=4).

On October 16, the league cancelled its 2008 season when a deadline to reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with its player's association was not met. When a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached with the player's association on October 24, efforts began to create a new schedule for the 2008 season. The original schedule had been lost with the October 16 cancellation. Due to the unique business issues arising out of the cancellation of the original 2008 season schedule, Arizona and Boston were provided the option of electing inactive status for the 2008 season. The clubs were provided the option to re-enter in 2009 season by participating in the expansion draft or to receive back their rostered players from 2008. Arizona has chosen to re-claim their dispersed players for the 2009 season, while Boston has chosen not to re-claim their players following this season, and will build their 2009 roster as an expansion team.

Minnesota opens its fourth NLL campaign at Toronto on Friday, Jan. 11 and then hosts the Rock on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center in the home opener. Swarm lower level season ticket packages are on sale now and start at $80. Certain seating locations include buy two season tickets and get two complimentary plus free parking. Lower level 4-game plans start at $44. Single game tickets will go on sale in early December. Call 888-MNSWARM or info@mnswarm.com for more information.

• Discuss this story on the National Lacrosse League message board...

National Lacrosse League Stories from November 5, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central